Mortal Dawn and Dusk, My Eternal Life - Chapter 39

Tianjin, Du Mansion, that elegant secret chamber hidden beneath the dilapidated courtyard.

At this moment, the atmosphere within the secret chamber, utterly incongruous with its refined furnishings, was filled with oppression and… a faint, lingering smell of blood.

The black-robed figure, who had moved like a ghost through the streets and alleys, was now kneeling on the ground, head bowed, not even daring to breathe loudly. His black cloak was somewhat tattered, vaguely revealing several scrapes and bloodstains, evidently left from his recent encounter with Su Mingyue and subsequent escape.

Old Master Du, sitting upright in his grand armchair, had a face so grim it seemed capable of dripping water. His originally shrewd and sharp eyes were now bloodshot and horrifying, his eye sockets sunken. His lips also trembled slightly from some inexpressible pain. The two walnuts in his hand had long ceased spinning; they were clenched tightly in his palm, his knuckles white from the force.

The air in the secret chamber seemed to solidify, making it hard to breathe.

“So… you failed?”

After a long while, Old Master Du slowly opened his mouth, his voice hoarse like a broken gong. Every word was squeezed out as if from between clenched teeth, filled with suppressed rage.

“Re… reporting, Master… it was this humble one’s incompetence…” The black-robed figure trembled, his voice quivering slightly. “This humble one… was almost successful, but who knew… a busybody woman suddenly appeared! That woman… that woman’s skills were very strange. This humble one… this humble one was no match for her…”

“Woman?” Old Master Du’s brow raised, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. “Is it… that ‘Divine Doctor Su’ who has recently gained fame in Tianjin?” He had just instructed his subordinate to investigate the female physician’s background that afternoon, and unexpectedly, she was already involved in his affairs so quickly.

“It… it should be her!” The black-robed figure quickly nodded. “This humble one saw her saving someone on the street before, and she is indeed a bit sinister! And… she seems to have set her sights on us! When this humble one escaped, I was even ambushed by the police, and almost…” He lowered his voice a few more degrees as he spoke, clearly still traumatized.

“The police…” Old Master Du’s face grew even uglier. He slammed the table violently, raging: “Useless! All of you are useless! You can’t even handle such a small matter! What good are you to this old man?!” His chest heaved violently, clearly in a state of considerable anger. Logically, tonight, he should have received a new “supplement” to alleviate the pain in his body, which felt like ten thousand ants gnawing at his heart. But now… everything was ruined! And, he had even provoked that mysterious “Divine Doctor Su” and the troublesome police!

An uncontrollable dryness and a deep, bone-chilling emptiness, like a tide, surged from deep within his body again! His skin began to visibly dry and wrinkle, as if rapidly losing moisture and vitality. His breathing also became increasingly rapid and difficult, as if an invisible large hand was tightly clutching his throat!

“Ugh… ah…”

Old Master Du let out a painful groan, his hands uncontrollably clutching his chest, his fingernails digging deeply into the brocade robe’s fabric. His bloodshot eyes stared fixedly at the black-robed figure kneeling on the ground, his gaze filled with savagery and… a chilling craving!

The black-robed figure felt the terrifying aura emanating from Old Master Du, and those eyes, like a hungry wolf’s, staring at him. He was terrified out of his wits, his body trembling like a sieve! He knew that his master was… having another attack! And this attack was fiercer than ever before! He had no doubt that if he didn’t act, the next moment, his master would drain his life force, just as he did with those “wares” he had “selected”!

“Ma… Master… your… your anger…” The black-robed figure forced himself to speak, his voice trembling. “This humble one… this humble one will go… go find another… I promise… I promise tonight I will…”

However, Old Master Du at this moment could no longer hear his words. The intense craving for life force had completely consumed his reason! He suddenly rose from the grand armchair, and like a hungry tiger pouncing on its prey, he violently grabbed the black-robed figure kneeling on the ground! His withered hands, like iron clamps, tightly gripped the black-robed figure’s neck, lifting him entirely off the ground!

The black-robed figure felt a suffocating sensation. His legs kicked wildly in the air, his face contorted in an expression of extreme terror and despair! He could clearly feel his life force being continuously drained through his master’s cold hands, through the black-robed figure’s neck!

“Ma… Master… spare… spare my life…” The black-robed figure struggled to squeeze out a few words from his throat, his eyes filled with pleading. He didn’t want to die! He didn’t want to become a shriveled corpse like those “wares” who had been drained!

Just as the black-robed figure thought he was doomed, a flicker of struggle and… clarity suddenly appeared in Old Master Du’s eyes, which had been clouded by madness. He looked at this confidant who had followed him for years, at the distorted expression on his face caused by fear, and the bloodthirsty urge in his heart was forcibly suppressed a little.

No! This person cannot die yet!

Although he was useless, he was loyal and familiar with all his secrets. Without him, his future actions would become extremely inconvenient. More importantly… this meager bit of life force he possessed could not completely alleviate his current pain! He needed… purer, more vibrant life force!

“Ugh—!!!”

Old Master Du let out a painful roar, and violently threw the black-robed figure away! The black-robed figure fell to the ground like a broken sack, clutching his neck, coughing violently, gasping for fresh air, his face filled with the relief of having narrowly escaped death.

As for Old Master Du, due to forcibly suppressing the urge to consume life force, coupled with the immense pain brought by his illness, his entire body trembled violently, veins bulging on his forehead, sweat pouring down like rain. His skin became even more shriveled, as if it could crack at any moment. His breathing also became like a broken bellows, filled with an irritating grinding sound. He could feel his life force rapidly draining away! If he didn’t get replenishment soon, he… might really die!

“Quick… go…”

Old Master Du used his last shred of strength, squeezing out a few words from between his teeth,

“Go… go call… my second… second concubine… over!”

His voice, distorted by extreme pain, was hoarse and broken, but the command it contained was undeniable.

The black-robed figure’s body jolted upon hearing this, a flicker of reluctance in his eyes, but more than that, fear. He knew that “second concubine” referred to the youngest and most beloved concubine in the mansion, young and beautiful. He also knew what it meant for his master to call her over at this hour…

But he dared not disobey, nor dared to speak further. He could only suppress the fear in his heart and the severe pain in his neck, scrambling and crawling out of the secret chamber.

Soon, a soft jingle of ornaments, accompanied by a faint orchid-like fragrance, came from the stone steps. A young woman in a peach-colored silk qipao embroidered with gold, with a graceful figure and delicate face, walked elegantly into the secret chamber, led by the black-robed figure.

It was Old Master Du’s second concubine, Sun Yuqing. She was clearly meticulously dressed, her hair piled high with swaying pearls and jade. Her lightly powdered face appeared even more vibrant and alluring. She thought her master calling her so late meant… he wanted to spend the night with her. Therefore, a shy and expectant smile graced her face.

“Master…” Sun Yuqing walked into the secret chamber and found her master not in the grand armchair, but… hiding behind a screen painted with images of beautiful ladies, only a blurry silhouette visible. She couldn’t help but feel a little strange.

“Master, what… what’s wrong?” she asked softly, her voice melodious.

“Yuqing… come here…” From behind the screen came Old Master Du’s hoarse voice, tinged with a strange allure. “Come… come to me…”

Although Sun Yuqing felt a little strange, she didn’t think much of it. After all, her master sometimes had… peculiar habits. She moved with light, graceful steps, swaying delicately as she walked towards the screen. She believed that what awaited her was her master’s tenderness and affection.

However, the moment she rounded the screen and saw the scene behind it, the smile on her face completely froze! It was replaced by boundless terror and… utter disbelief!

She saw Old Master Du, who was usually gentle and doted on her, now huddled in the grand armchair, trembling all over, his skin withered like old tree bark, his face covered in grotesque blue veins. His eyes gleamed with a horrifying red light, like a fiend crawled out of hell! This… this was no longer the Old Master Du she knew!

“Ma… Master… what… what’s wrong with you?!”

Sun Yuqing shrieked in terror, her face paling, and turned to flee! But it was already too late!

Old Master Du’s withered hands, like ghostly claws, shot out like lightning, fiercely clamping onto her slender, pale neck!

“Yuqing… my good Yuqing…” Old Master Du let out a chilling, sinister chuckle. His shriveled face almost pressed against Sun Yuqing’s. “Don’t be afraid… it will be over soon… Give me all your life force…” With that, he no longer hesitated. He opened his mouth, twisted by pain, and fiercely bit down on Sun Yuqing’s delicate neck…

No, more precisely, he… sucked down!

“Ah—!!!”

An extremely shrill scream echoed in the silent secret chamber, then abruptly ceased. Sun Yuqing’s beautiful eyes widened violently, her pupils filled with boundless terror and despair. She could clearly feel her life force being continuously drained through the bite wound on her neck by her master’s cold hands! Her body, at a visible speed, withered and shriveled… Her once vibrant, flower-like face also rapidly lost all its luster, becoming pale and lifeless, like a withered blossom.

In just a few breaths, a living, vibrant beauty completely transformed into a… cold, desiccated corpse.

As for Old Master Du, who had consumed his second concubine’s life force, the changes in him were equally astonishing. His previously shriveled skin plumped up again, the blue veins on his face gradually disappeared, and the red glow in his eyes also regained a hint of clarity. He released his grip on Sun Yuqing’s neck, letting the now lifeless body fall limply to the ground. He let out a long sigh of satisfaction, a somewhat morbid smile on his face. Although the life force of one second concubine was not enough to fully restore him, at least… it temporarily suppressed the pain in his body, which felt like ten thousand ants gnawing at his heart. He licked the bloodstains remaining on his lips, his eyes gleaming with an even colder and more ruthless light.